JAMAICA NEWSWEEKLY For the Week ending March 26, 2004

———————————————————————THIS WEEK’S NEWS SUMMARY———————————————————————GOV’T CONFIDENT OF BOOM IN ECONOMY FOR 2004 – 26/03/04The Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies has promised the Jamaican society a boom in the economy for 2004. He posits that an expected boom in investment will bring the best year ever since his appointment in 1993. Dr. Davies was addressing a group of people from the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce where he explained that there has been an all time high in the number investments in tourism…

DIVISION ON CHARTER OF RIGHTS BETWEEN GOV’T & OPPOSITIONThe Opposition is at odds with the government over the new provision it is attempting to make to the Charter of Rights in the Jamaican Constitution. The Opposition argues that the rights of the Jamaican people are at risk which is what the Charter is aimed at protecting. Delroy Chuck, Opposition spokesman on Justice presented an alternative draft…

BABIES MASSACRED BY MENTALY ILL UNCLE – 25/03/04A mentally ill man chopped and killed his three babies in his family. The man who frequently visited his relatives was always hurling threats to kill. On this occasion Caston Haase, the mentally ill man began sharpening his machete no one took it serious until it was too late. Haase began wielding the machete but even when the infants mom began running away her in her arms but could not escape. The children a four-month-old baby girl, her seven-year-old sister Peta-Gayle Patterson and their seven-year-old cousin, Brenda Dinnal, were identified as the nieces of the attacker…

UN PRAISE JAMAICA FOR HOSTING REFUGEE HAITIANSJamaica has been commended by the United Nations for hosting the Haitian refugees. The UN High Commissioner Ruud Lubbers, has thanked Jamaica for the “generosity of spirit” regarding its treatment of Haitian refugees fleeing the political crisis in their homeland. UN officials visiting the island said that the treatment of the refugees exceeded international standards…

NIGERIA OFFERS ARISTIDE TEMP ASYLUM – 24/03/04The Nigerian government has offered Aristide temporary asylum but he has refused the offer on the grounds that other offers are pending. Amidst the arrival of more Haitians on the shores of Jamaica up to Wednesday concerns have been for their health and the strain on the Jamaican resources have become cause for worry…

CCJ ALMOST A REALITYThe Caribbean Court of Justice is almost a reality and a Trinidadian retired judge is being tipped to become President of the CCJ and is expected to get a salary of up to US$144,000.00. Applications for judges to the CCJ, a position that pays US$120,000 tax free, are now being accepted, and will remain open until 3:30 p.m. on April 9…

BRITISH TEEN GETS SUSPENDED SENTENCE – 23/03/04A British teenager on drug smuggling charge got the sentence suspended because the judge did not know who was responsible. The teen was born with both male and female genitals making it difficult for the judge to decide which facility to place the teenager in. Jonathon Featherstone, 18, a hermaphrodite is registered as a male in his British passport but because he shares genitals the judge has decided to suspend his sentence for smuggling about 15.65 kgs (34.5 pounds) of ganja out of the country on March 16…

JAMAICAN TRUCK DRIVER MAY GET THE DEATH SENTENCEA Jamaican truck driver who was involved in what the US called the deadliest smuggling tragedy could face the death penalty. Seventeen persons suffocated and two later died when the driver abandoned the truck carrying 70 illegal immigrants from Mexico and the Dominican Republic…

PRIVY COUNCIL WILL RULE ON HANGING – 22/03/04The UK Privy Council will begin hearing the controversial debate on hanging in the Caribbean. The Privy Council is set to hear a consolidated appeal over the constitutionality of the mandatory death sentence. It is customary for a seven-member team to hear appeals but because of the seriousness of the issue, a nine-member panel will be selected…

EDUCATION WANTS A BIGGER SLICE OF THE BUDGET?The Ministry of Education is seeking a $30 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The President of the Jamaica Teachers Association Wentworth Gabbidon, said he would welcome the increase of $7 million over last years budget for education so that some Primary and Secondary schools could be upgraded…——————————————————————–SPORTS———————————————————————ENGLAND ON TOP – 26/03/04The English are on top for the first time in years moving ahead by being in charge of the second the second Test of the Cable & Wireless Series between the West Indies and England. England scored 246 off 96.4 overs after going to lunch at 123 for two with 69 runs coming off 33.4 overs, to tea at 197 for four with 74 runs coming off 27 overs…

TIVOLI BEATEN BY HARBOUR VIEWRivals Harbour View in the National Primer League beat Tivoli by 3-1 yesterday at the Harbour View Mini Stadium. McCreath struck in the 13th and 37th minutes of play whereas Daniel Shaw scored Harbour View’s second goal in the 34th Harbour View will now meet Santos in the semi finals…

Jamaica is home to the CFU marketing divisionMarch 7.At the official opening ceremony of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) marketing division at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston, the vice president of FIFA, Austin “Jack” Warner said that in his opinion the best location to host the CFU marketing division is Jamaica. The CFU marketing division will be headed by Horace Burrell, former JFF president, and will be located at the Towers, in New Kingston. One of the functions of the CFU is look for profitable areas in marketing of Caribbean football including the selling of the Caribbean television rights for the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. A part of the profits is to be used to put in place an under-14 tournament throughout the Caribbean. Warner expressed confidence in Burrell as head of the marketing division and his ability to sell ideas. Also in attendance was Creston Boxill who recently defeated Burrell for the post of JFF president.